George Holcomb

Tuesday, October 7, 1828: I racked cider and made out a load of nearly five barrels, and brother Wm carried it with my wagon and horses for me to N. Nichols distillery and said Nichols had bargained to pay me in tallow at ten cts per pound and give 50 cts per barrel for cider.  Wm fetched a chest of cake from Bull’s to carry to training to sell tonight.  Platt Wylie put his horse to my wagon and we rode to Doc Right’s and he gave me a writing to carry to Doctor Graves to clear me from military duty on account of deafness.
Wednesday: This morning Mr. John Russell rode with me to Doctor Graves to see if he would give me a discharge from military duty.  He wrote certificate to have my neighbors sign that I was deaf in one ear.  I like got all my neighbors to sign it. I carried it back this evening and said Graves gave me certificate, and I carried the said certificate to Capt Sylvester Gardner and he signed it.
Thursday, October 9, 1828: I went to Berlin to Doc Hammond’s old stand to Nicholas Harrington’s to muster training peddling.  I cleared about 8 dols. Hiram Beers went with me and peddled for me.  I gave him fifty cts for his day’s work.  Brother Wm went with me to training peddling.
Friday: I peddled in our own town to Simon Cranston’s to muster.  Said Beers helped me the same as yesterday.  I cleared or made about eight dols today again.
Saturday: This morning after we tended to some chores I took the covered wagon and carried my wife and daughter went with me to Pittsfield on a visit to Mr. Joseph Fairfields.  I called in the village and left Henry H. Strong three bushels of apples towards my newspapers.  I carried my big bible to Pittsfield to be bound at $1.37 cts.  We called up to Pontoosuc and stayed to Mr. Joseph Fairfields.
Sunday: today I went to a Methodist meeting at a school house near said Fairfield’s, and this afternoon we came home.  I handed said Fairfield 14 cts to pay the pasturing of my horses to a man nearby or said landlord to Fairfield, his name I do not remember.  We came home through Lanesborough.
Monday: Today quite a high wind.  We dug potatoes and I gathered apples and I gathered walnuts.  Tonight I went to school meeting.  I was chosen first trustee and Adam Brown the second and Zachariah Chapman the third.  The wind blew off the roof to my hovel.
Tuesday: We dug potatoes and mended our hovel.

Tuesday, September 24, 1828: I took my wife and Aseneth and Miriam Newton and Eliza Wylie and Sarah Egleston and our hired girl Almyra Buten all to the Methodist Camp Meeting in Lebanon near Bigalow’s tavern, and this evening I rode to the pool and got two chests of cake for training.
Wednesday: Today I went to New Ashford to Muster training peddling.  I cleared about three dol and 50 cts. I went with the covered wagon and brother Wm went and I Newton and I carried their loading to peddle and Platt Wylie rode with me.
Thursday: Today I went to muster training to Lenox peddling and Mr. I Newton went with me and from Lenox we went up to Dalton and stayed to Holding’s tavern.  We paid 25 cts each for our horse keeping and lodging and bitters.
Friday: This morning we went on from Holding’s tavern to the middle of the town to training peddling.  I made about nine dollars and a half yesterday and today, and tonight I got home about midnight.
Saturday we gathered apples and made cider.  I Newton helped and is to have cider to peddle.  I made Gen Caleb Carr a present of 50 cts to talk with Colonel Hosey Bennet and acquaint him of my complaint and for him not to try to make me do military duty.  Tonight we made cider.
Sunday: This evening I walked over to Mr. Amos Chapman’s to see if he had made a pair of shoes for Almyra Buten, but he had not got them done.
Monday: This forenoon I took a cow to Mr. Sylvenas Carpenter’s for an increase, and today I drew rails to fence stacks.
Tuesday: I drew a load of wood and we cut up and drew in corn, and I handed Samuel Holcomb one dollar to hand to Squ Nathan Howard to advance for the Hartford Watchman for the next six months.
Wednesday, October 1: Today I went to Pittsfield with the double wagon peddling to the cattle show.  Brother Wm and I Newton went with me peddling, and I carried Jared Harrison as a passenger and carried our victuals and Harrison ate with me.  He agreed to make two pair of shoes for going with me.  We stayed all night in Pittsfield.  We went to the east part of the town and stayed to get good feed for my horses.  I paid six cents for my lodging and ten cents for one horse and brother Wm paid the other horse keeping.  Some rainy day and night.  We stayed to a mulatoe’s by the name of David.  We had good accommodations and lodgings.
Thursday we peddled to aid cattle show.  We carried J. Bull’s cake and sold out, and bought of the whole sale peddler from Greenbush.  We got home this evening.  I made about eleven dollars.
Tuesday, October 7: I racked cider and made out a load of nearly five barrels, and brother Wm carried it with my wagon and horses for me to N. Nichols distillery and said Nichols had bargained to pay me in tallow at ten cts per pound and give 50 cts per barrel for cider.  Wm fetched a chest of cake from Bull’s to carry to training to sell tonight.  Platt Wylie put his horse to my wagon and we rode to Doc Right’s and he gave me a writing to carry to Doctor Graves to clear me from military duty on account of deafness.
Wednesday: This morning Mr. John Russell rode with me to Doctor Graves to see if he would give me a discharge from military duty.  He wrote certificate to have my neighbors sign that I was deaf in one ear.  I like got all my neighbors to sign it. I carried it back this evening and said Graves gave me certificate, and I carried the said certificate to Capt Sylvester Gardner and he signed it.
Thursday, October 9, 1828: I went to Berlin to Doc Hammond’s old stand to Nicholas Harrington’s to muster training peddling.  I cleared about 8 dols. Hiram Beers went with me and peddled for me.  I gave him fifty cts for his day’s work.  Brother Wm went with me to training peddling.
Friday: I peddled in our own town to Simon Cranston’s to muster.  Said Beers helped me the same as yesterday.  I cleared or made about eight dols today again.
Saturday: This morning after we tended to some chores I took the covered wagon and carried my wife and daughter went with me to Pittsfield on a visit to Mr. Joseph Fairfields.  I called in the village and left Henry H. Strong three bushels of apples towards my newspapers.  I carried my big bible to Pittsfield to be bound at $1.37 cts.  We called up to Pontoosuc and stayed to Mr. Joseph Fairfields.
Sunday: today I went to a Methodist meeting at a school house near said Fairfield’s, and this afternoon we came home.  I handed said Fairfield 14 cts to pay the pasturing of my horses to a man nearby or said landlord to Fairfield, his name I do not remember.  We came home through Lanesborough.
Monday: Today quite a high wind.  We dug potatoes and I gathered apples and I gathered walnuts.  Tonight I went to school meeting.  I was chosen first trustee and Adam Brown the second and Zachariah Chapman the third.  The wind blew off the roof to my hovel.
Tuesday: We dug potatoes and mended our hovel.

by Alex Brooks

Tuesday, July 1, 1828: Today I paid sister Eleanor the interest on the note that Wm and I gave her, which was six dol and two cts, and then we gave her separate notes of eighty six dollars, and I gave Mother Holcomb five dollars to pay her expenses to the westward.  I sent and got the horse and sixteen dollars of the widow Mary Clark as is mentioned yesterday, and today started for Troy to carry Mother and sister Eleanor to take the canal to go to the westward.
Wednesday: This morning we went from Mr. Withee’s into Troy and I found a canal boat that was going out immediately.  I got them onto the boat for a dollar apiece to Utica and they started about eleven this forenoon.
Friday, July 4: Today I went to Independence to Dalton with a single wagon peddling cake and beer and cider.  I cleared about seven dollars and 50 cts.
Sunday: Towards night I took the single wagon and carried Mary Tanner’s band box of clothes to Amos Broad’s as she directed when she left working at our house.  My wife went with me to ride for her health today.  A traveler stopped to my house by the name of Wm Jones and he stayed in order to work tomorrow.  He is a stranger, out of money and poorly clothed.
Sunday, July 13: Today I took the single wagon and carried my wife to Doctor Right and we got some medicine to put into wine for her and then we came up to the pool.  I borrowed a bottle to Mr. Haskett’s and my wife borrowed a mantle.  It was some showry.  I went on pool hill to Mr. Bailey’s store and paid 1/11 pence for one pint of wine to mix the medicine and I paid three cents for a card of cookies for my wife to eat, on the way home.  Today we put up some of our hay in to tumbles and it is rainy.

The following week they spend Friday the same way again, going to the Doctor for George’ wife, then giving her wine with medicine in it, and cookies.  She apparently gets better after that, as we hear no more of her illness.  
All through July George cuts a lot of hay, and his narrative describes all of the ways he got people to help him mow, and what his deal was with each person.

Tuesday, May 27, 1828: We worked on the highway.  Myself and cart was allowed me two days and Samuel worked his day’s assessment. I went up to brother Wm’s with Zach Chapman’s oxen and they worked on my cart on the highway.  On this day Squ John King’s son John Yates was buried.  He died on Sunday on the way from Hudson in the carriage near Whiting’s Pond.  He had the quick consumption.
Wednesday: We worked on the highway, myself and cart  and Samuel and Isaac Newton, we all, it counted me four days works.
Thursday: Today I took the single wagon and my bay mare and went to Pittsfield peddling to the Baptist Association.  The meeting was out at noon.  I peddled but little there, and some on the way home.  I sold two gallons and a half of cider wine to the printer Henry K. String at his shoe store for a pair of calf skin shoes for my son George P., price for them one dol, and agreed with him to take his newspaper commencing this week for the price advertised on said paper, two dollars delivered, and he agreed to take his pay in apples this fall – I am to deliver them. I returned said Bull’s cake, what I did not sell, and returned 75 cts for what I did not sell. I only cleared about 3 dollars for my day’s work, 50 cts of it trusted to the lame Stodder’s wife for two gallons of cider wine.
Friday: Today Platt Wylie sheered 17 sheep for me and agreed to take his pay in pasturing, and today Calvin P. Sackett put a yoke of unruly cattle into my pasture at 37 cts per week, providing they stay peaceable and gave me no trouble, nor did me no damage.  I called to Nathan Howard’s post office, and he sent a letter by me to brother Sylvester, and Squ Sylvester Howard sent by me brother Wm’s deed that had been sent to Rome to be executed.
Monday: We plowed the bean ground on my Rodgers farm with my ox team and then we carted in stone and gravel and made a small bridge in my pasture for a road to draw wood.  On this day the school mistress began to board with us.  Her name is Kittle, the daughter of Wm Kittle Jnr.
Sunday June 8: Today my sheep was chased by dogs and one wounded, and I went over to my Rodgers farm and put them in the barn together with Mr. Newton’s sheep, and he helped put them up and I employed him to doctor my wounded sheep, but the said sheep died tonight.  I walked up to Harvey Wheeler’s and told him that his neighbors frequently see his dogs chasing sheep, and he had better kill his dogs, and if I could make it more evident, I should expect payment from him.

Tuesday, May 2, 1828:  This forenoon I went over to Adam Brown and borrowed one bushel of flax seed, and I helped them mend fence while said Brown went up to Solomon Carpenter’s to see if he understood the bargain betwixt brother Wm and me, as said Brown did, and they agreed they to understand it as I have got it written down in this book under the date of April 2 1827, and Mr. John Russell agrees with this date, and today I returned said Russell’s scythe snath that I borrowed two years ago.
Wednesday: This forenoon I helped brother Wm drive his cattle and sheep up to his Morton farm, and this afternoon I moved my barn yard fence and helped tend my children. Sylvester came and worked on the gate that he began two years ago, and tonight brother Sylvester took one of my horses and went after Doctor Right, but he was not to home.  I walked over after Doctor Graves for my wife, and he came and stayed all night.  My wife had a sudden cold, together with hard work which brought on womens’ complaint, and he doctored my babe.  I sat up all night and watched with my wife and children.
Thursday: Today I went with my horses and wagon, and moved brother Wm onto his Morton Farm.  I then went with him to Sylvester Howard’s and counted out the twelve hundred and fifty dollars in silver to said Samuel Morton and took a lease, but said Morton has not paid up the rent as he agreed to.  They contended which should pay the back rent, and they both quit the dispute and Wm told him he would determine it by law.  I then went up to old Mr. Abel Tanner’s and got cousin  Betsey Holcomb to come home with us to work for us while my wife remained unwell.
Sunday, June 1, 1828: I went on West Hill.  I called to Thomas Tanner’s and engaged his daughter Mary to work for us this season at fifty cts per week, but if she did more than to do a week’s work in spinning I do agree to pay her more than fifty cts per week.  Her work is to consist of washing and milking or any other work that is needed.
Wednesday, June 14: I planted corn and Samuel harrowed and planted.  Tonight Mr. Stephen Sheldon called and I paid him my school bill, which was one dollar and fifty three cents, and my daughters went and Mary Ann Nappin, they three 117 days.  They all went about an equal number.

Friday, April 4, 1828: I sledded a few slabs with my twin steers from the little barn where Wm lives to my house, and Samuel plowed with the horse team, and this afternoon we laid up rail fence, a lane through the orchard, and I rode round the neighborhood asking teams to come and help me draw the small barn where brother Wm lives home for a wood house.  I called on to Pool Hill to the Baker Bull’s to see if he was baking cake for me to peddle in Pittsfield, but he concluded not to for he thought it would not sell.
Saturday: This forenoon I cut and drew and hewed the runners for to draw my wood house, and this afternoon we drew it by my going after another yoke on West Hill.  Mr. Hatch’s oxen, six yoke, disappointed me in coming after promising.  We had nine yoke in all and it drew very hard.  Today I borrowed a two gallon jug of cider brandy of George W. Glass.
Monday:  Today I borrowed Mr. John Russel’s stone boat and drew a few flat stones to put under the corners of my wood house, and I chopped some blocks to put under the wood house.  I trimmed my nursery and apple trees.
Tuesday: This morning Mr. Zach Chapman and Gideon Barnhart and brother Wm helped me pry up my wood house and I drew the floor that we took out of the wood house with my twin steers, and the rubbish up to my wood pile.
Thursday: This morning I load spring rye and Samuel plowed it in and this forenoon I took the cart with Wm’s oxen and twin steers and drew stone to fence the burying ground near the Presbyterian meeting house, and this afternoon I sowed rye and fixed my wood house.  Tonight old Mr. Bristol stays with us, he is trimming our apple trees for the brush for fire wood.
Friday: I finished boarding round under the sills to my wood house.
Sunday, April 20: On this day and night a very high wind and on this evening I paid brother Wm forty-six dollars, which makes out the nine hundred and fifty dollars for his half of the sixty acre farm that I live on, and he handed over the deed signed by him and his wife.

Monday, March 11, 1828: Today we took our sheep over to my Rodgers barn and I Newton agreed to fodder and stable and take care of the lambs for the privilege of his sheep to run with mine and be foddered of my hay until grass.
Tuesday: Today stormy.
Wednesday: I walked to the southwest part of Lebanon to Mr. Davis the plowmaker to make a bartering trade for a plow, but could not. On the way I called to Cousin J. Eggleston’s and to C. Moffitt’s store.
Friday: I am quite unwell with a lame back.
Saturday: I am unwell today. A snow storm.  This afternoon I walked over to C. Moffitt’s store and paid in cash 24 cts for half a gallon of molasses, and I bought a plow of Mr. Moses DeGraw. The plow was made by Davis, it is gypson’s pattern. I have paid him 50 cts in cash, and gave a due bill for three bushels of corn and eight gallons of cider brandy for said plow. He called said plow six dollars.
Sunday: Today I took the double sleigh and carried my wife and Mother and Hannah and Mary Basset to the Presbyterian meeting.  One Mr. Beech preached.
Monday: this forenoon I walked over to Gideon Martin’s to see if he was going to get the money to lend me as he before gave me encouragement.  He now tells me that I can have it by the first of April.  I likewise called on Henry Stanton.  He had three hundred dollars on hand, and agreed to keep it for me until April, and says if I want it then he will lend it to me.  This afternoon I cut an ash in my swamp that had turned up for sled runners, and we cut up some hemlock brush.  Tonight we shelled corn.
Saturday, March 29: We got home from Troy this morning at four o’clock.  Our expense was one dollar and eight cents.  We bated but once coming home.  I am unwell, but this afternoon I walked to Richmond and borrowed three hundred dollars of Brother Fred Jay Wylie, and gave my note on interest for one year, payable in current bank bills.  I took tea there.  I then walked home.
Sunday: On this evening I walked down to said Cousin Broads to see if his Father would lend me money, but he would not.
Monday: This morning I walked over to Henry Stanton’s and borrowed three hundred dollars payable in six months in current bank bills.  Likewise I borrowed thirty dollars of Henry Curtis payable in one year in current bank bills, and from Stanton’s I went to Gideon Martin’s and borrowed one hundred dollars and gave my note for one year, and from there I went to Elijah Goodrich’s and gave my note to Lydia Stone for nine dollars in specie payable in one year.  I then came to Adam Brown’s and sold him my four year old steers for fifty dollars, and paid me the cash, and he lent me fifty dollars payable in one year.
Wednesday, April 2: Today brother Wm and I walked to Pittsfield.  He borrowed eighty dollars of the widow Hannah Buh and I signed the note with him.  The money was all in specie.  I went into the bank and gave nearly two hundred dollars Stockbridge bills for their bills.  I then paid brother Wm eight hundred and thirty one dollars in Pittsfield bills and took a receit.

by Alex Brooks

Friday, Feb. 15, 1828: In the forenoon I piled up wood to the door and then I put both yoke of my steers on with Wm’s oxen to brake them, and went with him into the swamp and got a load of wood for Mother.
Monday: This morning our Governor died, DeWitt Clinton, died in a fit, if I get the information right.

DeWitt Clinton served two terms in the United States Senate and was the Federalist candidate for President in the election of 1812, which he lost to James Madison in a rather close election.
From 1810 to 1824, he was a member of the Erie Canal Commission. He was among the first members, appointed in 1810, who projected and surveyed the route to be taken. After 1816, he became the driving force during the construction of the canal.
He served as Governor of New York from 1817 to 1822, and again from 1824 until his death in 1828. His first major accomplishment as Governor was to get the legislature to appropriate $7 million for construction of the canal, which was finished in 1825. This was derided as a boondoggle by critics who called it “Clinton’s ditch,” but it made New York State the most prosperous state in the nation, and New York City the greatest city in the new world.
Wednesday, February 27, 1828: Today a thaw, and rainy.  I mended my horse sled and then I took the cutter and carried my wife and daughter Charlotte to Hancock Village and traded to Gregory’s and Hadsells.
Thursday: On this evening Hiram Hastings, brother Sylvester, and I Newton made us a short visit, and said Hastings planed off the comers of my wife’s bureau drawers, or the bottoms, to make them slide in easier. This morning Squ. James Sweet died.
Friday: I tended to chores and some unwell and the rest of my family unwell, with colds. Tonight I called and made the widow Landers a short visit.
Sunday: This evening I walked to the post office to Nathan Howard’s and took out a letter from my wife’s sister Hannah Twichel in Cincinnati, Ohio, price 25 cents, and I paid one cent for a Cincinnati newspaper sent. Said Howard lent me a Freemasons Monitor. Today snowy and tonight rainy.
Monday: Today Gideon Barnhart helped me cut a walnut and he works it into ax helves, and we draw it the remainder for wood. I tried to shave ox bows, but I did not make any.
Tuesday: I took the horse team and sled and fetched a load of hay from my Rodgers barn, and drew a load of wood or walnut limbs off the hill and then we drew out manure with our oldest steers.

Wednesday, February 6, 1828: Today I am unwell, with a pain in my head.  Today I went up to Mr. John Russel’s, and Doc Bacholer from Pittsfield came and cut out a wen or substance from near the end of my second finger on my left hand, on the inside of said finger, which was very painful in taking it out and scraping the bone, and I paid him one dollar for the job, and tonight I took the single wagon and fetched my children from school.  Tonight my finger was some painful.
Thursday: I was quite unwell and I took phisic and my lame finger kept me confined to wetting it in spirits and water.  Tonight Hiram Spring stayed with us.
Friday: Today I kept confined to the house with my lame finger and some unwell.  Today Elijah Hatch buried his oldest daughter.  She died with the measles.
Monday: Today I walked to Richmond to brother Jay Wylie’s to see if he was getting the money five hundred dollars to lend me the first of April.  He agreed to get the money by that time.  On the way I called to Mr. Dewey’s to let him know that Henry Stanton wanted his money by the first of April.
Tuesday, February 12: On this day I bought brother Wm’s half of the single wagon with the pleasure box and lumber box and the chairs that we used in said boxes and one cushion that belonged to it, likewise his half of the cutter, and his half of the double and single harness to have a pair of single whiffletrees and the two set of trace chains with said harness., and for the same I gave a set of single wagon on wheels 12 dol delivered at Samuel Holcomb’s shop, and my half of the cast plow, 2 dol and 50 cts for my half of the horse collar, and I paid him five dol and 50 cts to the Shakers in harness leather, and I paid him three dollars in cash, and one dol remains unpaid yet, which makes 24 dol that I pay him for his half of the before-mentioned articles, calling said wagon 25 dol and cutter 12 dol and harnesses 11 dollars.
Thursday: I walked up to Squ Gideon Martin’s to see if he was intended to lend me money this spring.  He gave me encouragement.  I borrowed a book of his, Mary Dyre’s writings against the Shakers.  Hiram Spring stays with us tonight.

Sunday, December 23, 1827: Today I took the cutter and carried my wife to the funeral of one Mr. Powell, he died on Monday night it is expected, in the snow storm.  He was intoxicated and on his way home from the store with a jug of rum.  Elder Jones preached his funeral at the schoolhouse in Goodrich Hollow, but sermon was out before we got there.  Today cousin widow Nelly Holcomb and her son called to see if we would take her daughter to work for her board and go to school.
Monday: I carried my children to school and drew wood from my Rodgers Farm.  Tonight I started to go to see the widow Nelly Holcomb to let her know that she might send her girl and we would take her as proposed.  I sent word by her son without going any further. Tonight we kept a trunk peddler, and he paid us in pins and thread.
Thursday: Today some stormy.  I tended to chores and chopped wood to the door, and we, brother Wm and I, tended to dividing our sheep.  We had to divide our sheep over again on account of the marks getting rubbed off.
Friday: I called down to the Shakers to David Munson’s and paid one dol and 61 cts for five pounds of 3/4 of shoe leather.  I called into J. Gold’s store and exchanged 21 dols Vermont money for Albany, Troy, and Pittsfield money.  Some rainy.
Saturday: I called to Samuel Holcomb’s to see if widow Nelly Holcomb was going to let me have her little girl to help us, as has been talked, but she has engaged her elsewhere.  On the way I called to M. Platt’s store and paid ten cents for my wife a small hair comb.
Thursday, January 10, 1828: We chopped and piled wood in my Rodgers swamp.  On this morning Miss Alma Booge died.  She has been for months unwell with bloating, and died at last with quick consumption.
Friday: Today my wife and I walked down to the widow Booge’s to the funeral of Alma Booge.  Mr. Silas Churchill preached.  I went up Goodrich Hollow in Hancock to Gideon Martin’s to engage money to borrow to make out a payment to brother Wm the first of April for land, but I did not engage any for a certainty.  I called to Henry Stanton and got the promise of three hundred dollars the first of April next.
Thursday, January 24: Today I took the cutter and carried my wife and Mother Holcomb to Hazard Morey’s to the funeral of Old Mrs. Morey, her age 89 years.  A Quaker from Adams preached and today Mr. Sylvester Gardner was married to Miss Alma Russell by Elder Jones, and this evening Mr. John Hatch to Miss Lecta Tyler, and tonight I walked over to H. Platt’s store and left my tax money and brother Wm’s with said Platt to hand to the said collector Mittle according to his orders. Our taxes were five dol and 80 cts, and brother Wm’s taxes were one dol and 88 cts.